Aug. 22, 2016 -- At its next regular meeting Sept. 6, the Board of Education will decide how to proceed with the capital project, which was postponed in May after construction bids came in higher than the amount approved by district voters in March 2015.

Reducing the scope of the project to eliminate approximately $3.5 million in costs.

Asking voters to approve an additional expenditure of $2.7 million so the project can be completed as originally planned, with the exception of some “value-engineered” (or cost-reducing) modifications that would trim $745,000 off the total project price. (Because an estimated 82 percent of the project is eligible for state aid, officials expect the local share of the increase to be $524,675, an amount the district has available in fund balance. That means the increase, if approved by voters, would have zero impact on the local tax levy.)

If the BOE opts to seek voter approval to spend additional money on the project, the community vote would likely be scheduled for Nov. 15. If approved, bids would go out in December and construction could begin in June 2017.

If the board decides to re-scope the project – or if voters reject the additional expenditure – the district would need to re-scope (or reduce the scope) of the work and submit new plans to the New York State Education Department for review. In light of recent staffing changes at SED, the state is warning districts that new reviews will take between 12 and 15 months to complete, which means construction likely wouldn’t begin until the summer of 2018.